Mexico Wedding Planner 2013 - (Page 42)

CARMEN LABORIN View of Puerto Vallarta from Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa selling everything from huichol indigenous art to the ﬁne wares of Sergio Bustamante. The new malecon is a wide, brick-lined and pedestrian-friendly boardwalk with lots of benches, shady spots and a collection of open-air art—a huge draw for visitors and locals alike. Culture runs deep in Vallarta and it’s home to one of the most dynamic and fastest growing arts scenes in Mexico. After the sun goes down, the city comes alive with live music and late-night dancing. Outdoors, Vallarta delivers adventure with whale watching tours and turtle release programs (in season), ziplines, dolphin experiences, snorkeling, horseback riding, hiking and more. Outﬁtters like Vallarta Adventures (vallarta-adventures.com) can organize day excursions (by plane) to nearby historic towns like San Sebastian and Mascota, as well as land and sea adventures down the coast of the Riviera Nayarit. Note: Vallarta Adventures also runs Adventure Weddings (vallarta-adventures.com/weddings), hosting ceremonies on the secluded beach in Las Caletas, accessible only by boat. With nearly 200 miles of coastline that start at the historic port of San Blas and move south to Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit is a destination unto itself. “We offer a lot of daytime attractions be- 16 / march 2013 14-19 CentralBeaches.indd 16 yond the beach,” says the Rivera Nayarit CVB’s Zarkin. “From midDecember to March, visitors can catch the migration of humpback whales to our shores or, from January through February, head up north to San Blas and catch the largest migration of birds that make La Tovara National Park their home. Moreover, West Coast brides have the option of direct ﬂights to Riviera Nayarit with several airline carriers.” The jungle-like setting is dotted with world-class resorts and hotels. Towns like Sayulita—a hotspot for surﬁng and SUP—the bohemian Bucerias and the artist/surfer’s paradise of “San Pancho” appeal to brides looking for something a little different. Only 4.3 miles apart, Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo are two entirely different places with two distinct lifestyles. Golfers in the wedding party will recognize the more modern Ixtapa for its championship courses. It also has charming village-style malls with handicraft shops, galleries, cafes, gourmet restaurants and all-night discos. Zihuatanejo is slower paced and more traditional, with a burgeoning cultural scene. The waters off of both destinations are top sportﬁshing hotspots— think giant yellow ﬁn tuna, roosterﬁsh and sailﬁsh. There are numerous surﬁng hotspots in Zihua, plus calmer waters for scuba, sailing, sea kayaking, parasailing and more. Agents can book clients with DMCs like Sunnyside Tours (sunnyside.com.mx) and AMSTAR (amstardmc.com), which offer bilingual guides. The ﬂamboyant grande dame of the Paciﬁc Coast, Acapulco welcomes wedding parties with restaurants that boast spectacular menus and even more spectacular views (including the famous restaurant and diver combination at La Quebrada). Add to that several professional golf courses, shopping, spas, beachcombing and an recommend.com 2/21/13 9:22 AM http://www.vallarta-adventures.com http://www.vallarta-adventures.com/weddings http://sunnyside.com.mx http://www.amstardmc.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Mexico Wedding Planner 2013

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Travel Indochina
Safaris in Southern Africa
Un-Cruise Adventures in Alaska
Alaska is Celebrating in 2013
"Hard Rock" Chicago-Style: Rock out in the Windy City
Mexico Destination Weddings & Honeymoon Planner
Girldfriends' Getaway at Eden Roc, Miami Beach
Kyushu: The Rising Sun of Japanese Destinations
The New All-Inclusives in Jamaica Claim Their Turf
RIU Punta Cana
Costa Rica: A Trio of Detours
Touring Central & Eastern Europe

Mexico Wedding Planner 2013